As of 2016, 15.8% of the entire EU population were self-employed. That’s about 76.2 million people. Interestingly, this number is expected to keep growing in the coming years thanks to the increasing number of opportunities becoming available not only in the region but across the globe as well.

So, if you’re looking to finally start your freelancing career, then now is the best time to do it—and the first step is to craft a freelancer resume that would get potential clients to notice.

Focus on the WIIFM

Whenever you’re applying for a job, you’re essentially marketing yourself to your potential employer. And, as with anything that involves sales, the focus should be on answering the WIIFM (what’s in it for me?) of the customer. It’s never about highlighting your features, so to speak. Instead, the goal should be figuring out what the customer needs and then showing them that you can provide it.

Your resume, then, should immediately make it clear how you can help potential employers, instead of just pointlessly listing all your accomplishments. For example, if you’re a freelance web developer and you know that most of the clients in your field are frustrated by how complicated the process of having a website built can be, then highlight how much easier and faster you can make it.

Make it interesting

Once you have the WIIFM part down, it’s time to make an eye-catching resume. Now, while in most cases, design-heavy resumes only work for individuals in the creative industry, it doesn’t mean that yours should only contain text.

Keep in mind that people are generally much better at processing visuals than words. This means that if you want your resume to be more effective, then you’ll need to include at least some visual cues like charts in it. Don’t worry if you don’t know how to go about doing so, however. You can easily find professional resume templates online.

Supplement it with an online portfolio or website

Again, having a great resume is only the first step. It’s only meant to get potential employers interested.

If you want to make an even bigger impression, then be sure to put up a professional looking portfolio—or at least a profile page with a list of projects and past clients—as well so you can further strengthen your image as an expert in your specific field.

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